FORTY-ONE Southport premises serving food have the lowest possible hygiene rating according to new online information.

The Scores on the Doors portal gives the public access to the conclusions of food standards inspectors when they visit premises.

Scores range from absolute zero to a top ranking of five.

It is part of a nationwide initiative from the Food Standards Agency, and its aim to reduce food-related illnesses by 20 per cent before 2010.

As well as restaurants, take-aways and cafes, council-run schools and nursing homes will also be included in the Sefton-wide list as part of the Freedom of Information Act.

The rating takes three elements into account; compliance with hygiene, structural compliance and the inspectorate’s confidence in the management.

A disclaimer which all visitors to Scores on the Doors must accept before accessing information states ratings are based on the latest inspection and “represents the situation as found by the officer on the day of that inspection”.

It also points out that a rating may not reflect the standard and quality of food available in the long term.

The site launch has met a mixed reaction with restaurateurs across the resort.

Mark Verite is chef director of Warehouse in West Street, which received an impressive four stars out of five.

He told the Visiter: “I think it’s a good idea and the way businesses work with Sefton Council now is a lot better than it was a few years ago.

“This provides a standard to aim for, not just for restaurants of our calibre, but for smaller venues where there is not such a high turnover.

“We can get a knock at the door at 10am in the morning from somebody carrying out an inspection there and then. They will check everything from fridge temperatures to hygiene control. I’m all for it.”

A rolling programme of inspections by food safety enforcement officers will see the information at Scores on the Doors regularly updated.

Anyone unhappy with the results can request another inspection to show any improvements.

Attilio Sergi, a leading member of the town’s restaurateurs’ group and an owner and partner of Fifty One, The Promenade said: “I do think this is a good idea. We have been given a manual called Sefton Food: Better Business which is very easy to follow.

“I am very supportive of it and it will help us all to improve.”

It is understood a three-stars will be seen as the acceptable standard.

Terry Wood, Sefton’s food safety manager, said: “The website is an excellent tool for people to check the food safety of a restaurant or any other food business in the borough.

“The website promotes food safety and also empowers consumer choice by making available information to which the public has a right to access under environment information regulation legislation.”